Extended Thoughts On Matt Brady’s Firing
So we’ve sort of worn this out on ye ole’ Twitters today, but we thought we should get our few major points and questions down about the end of Matt Brady’s 8-year run as Head Coach of the Men’s Basketball program.
First, we always personally enjoyed Coach Brady and his staff. Other than one snide remark when he thought one of us might be flirting with a friend of his, he was always willing to chat with dork alums like us as were his assistants (man are we gonna miss Coach O’Regan). Next, let’s not lose sight of the fact that this program was an absolute tire-fire when he arrived (and he didn’t help himself with the whole Marist suing JMU thing) and he definitely righted the ship a great deal. He struggled at times with transfers (Cooke), off-court issues (Rayshawn, Nation), and on-court discipline (Denzel), but his teams won 20 games half the time and snuck into the NCAA tournament during one of the weakest years a conference has ever had. This year’s team in particular was a respectable group who showed up every night and generally acquitted themselves in a manner befitting Dukes. There can be little doubt he leaves the program better than he found it.
But as for the general decision to let him go, it’s tough to find too much fault with Bourne and co. Brady had eight years – an eternity in today’s college game – and proved himself a capable recruiter, a respectable developer of talent when the kids themselves didn’t screw it up, and a competent game coach. But as Bill Parcells always says, at some point “you are what your record says you are” and in Brady’s case, that was a coach capable of 20ish wins and consistent postseason flameouts in a conference that no matter what the coaches and retired (good riddance) commissioners and other apologists tell you is a shell of its former self and has been begging for four years for a program with resources to dominate the Crumbling Athletic Association. More than anything in eight years, Brady kind of proved dominance wasn’t his thing. Neither was living in Harrisonburg or being a big presence in the community, always a faux pas with the Spotswood CC old-boys network that apparently still takes years to make major athletics’ decisions at JMU. Additionally, with the currently “challenging” campaign to scrape up funds for a new arena (stop calling it a Convo!), there’s no doubt almost any new coach is more exciting to donor base that realizes the quarterfinals of a low-major tournament are not enough for a school who’s other programs seem to be contenders every year.
Our fault with JMU in this situation is two-fold. First, the timing. It’s clear from Bourne’s comments that this decision was made a long time ago and JMU only squatted on Brady this year to limit the buyout (down to 20k) and save money. Nothing wrong with that, but the university’s unwillingness to commit to him was a consistent and unacceptable challenge Brady faced throughout this tenure. It’s pretty clear he would’ve been gone after the ’13 season had the Dukes not scrapped their way to that tourney berth. Basically, JMU could’ve pulled the trigger anyways in ’13 or either of the two intervening years were they not their typical penny-wise-pound-foolish selves. We can only hope the next guy gets a better assist than Brady ever did. And another thing on timing. You couldn’t have done this last Monday? You really were delusional enough to think an NIT berth might come? You really thought that this would somehow distract from a women’s team every true JMU fan knows is the real deal? And maybe most of all, you recruited fans and supporters to get on board with #JMUGivingDay and then pull this on the eve of the biggest JMU fundraising day of the year?! It’s so typical of JMU it makes me want to vomit. And that’s to say nothing of rumors of a Bourne/Alger split on the bungling handling of this firing.
Second, as long as JMU plays in a one-bid, low-major league, refuses to offer Cost of Attendance stipends even when members of their own conference are doing so already, has only an underfunded plan to replace the fire hazard they currently play in, and has such a consistent track record of half-assing their support of this program, we are left to wonder who the hell they think is going to be an upgrade from Brady?! At some point, we all have to take a step back and view our beloved JMU with objective eyes. And those eyes say Lefty or Lou ain’t walkin’ through that door. But in any case, we’ll still be making our contributions tomorrow, we’ll always be rootin’, and in this case, we’ll have our popcorn ready!
Oh yeah, one final note for all the “firing Brady means they’re looking for a coach for a conference move” tin-hat folks. You’re wrong. They’re pissed Brady can’t dominate the league President Alger just hired a new commissioner for the way so many other JMU programs can. #CAAlyfesentence
Well said. Brady seemed very likeable and I think he knows how to coach basketball, however there seemed to be something missing with regards to him recruiting and retaining talent. I also didn’t care much for him blaming the AAU culture for all his transfers. If that is the culture find a way to use it to your advantage like UNC-W’s best player who was tearing up DII and wanted to move up to better competition. Have no idea who Bourne and Co. will get, however I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt as so far they seem to have hit on the last two football coach hires and have a lot of success elsewhere in other sports programs.
Geez…down here in Tidewater, I hadn’t even heard he was fired. We don’t get a lot of JMU news down here.
I wonder if we could get Johnny Dawkins. I hear he’s looking for a job.
No issue whatsoever with the decision to let Brady go. I also have no real issue with the timing, in fact I think the timing could actually give ‘Giving Day’ a bump. There was very little energy around the Men’s basketball program from Students or Alumni. This can only help the energy level. Yes, Brady made a concerted effort to improve student body involvement this past season, but too little — too late. I think Brady is an ‘OK’ coach (mediocre) but JMU should strive to be better than mediocre in the CAA. Also, 20 win season’s are not what they were 10 years ago, especially given the OOC Brady played most years. Bourne did an excellent job in the email announcement explaining many areas where the program/coaching staff needed improvement.
beating dead horse
For all the crowing that was done during the CAA tournament about being the 9th best conference in RPI – that they got only one team into the NCAA Tournament confirms that it’s a total joke of a conference. JMU f***ed up during the Lefty years when invited to the Atlantic 10 out of loyalty to Dean Ehler’s “legacy” in forming the CAA. Totally stupid and a complete lack of vision. I don’t know what kind of coach would want this job other than an up and comer who would give it 2-3 years if successful. Especially if he’s expected to be a major fundraiser in a campaign where the AD expects the balance of $8 million to be raised in 6 months. Dude, I’m not even a coach and have that responsibility. I raise money for a living and I would NEVER take a job where some jackass lays that down as the expectations for the job.
It took Bourne 8 years to realize having a coach that doesn’t live in the community was a detriment. Many of us in the JMU Nation have said this from day one. I think I have memorized the propaganda the Duke Club reps were instructed to speak whenever it was brought up!